1S2 KEPOKT OF COMMISSIONEK OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



Tlie yield of ivoi-y in llic form of walrus tusks, si)erin-\vlialc teeth, 

 etc., is small al pivsciil, ainouiitiiig' lo less than $25,000 annually. 



The principal industrial use for bones of aquatic animals is for 

 conversion into fertilizer. Several varieties of curious bones arc used 

 for ornamentation, but their aggregate A^alue is inconsiderable. 



The sponge output of Florida approximates ^500,000 annually, and 

 the value of the product tlii-ougliout the world is pi-obably not far 

 from $5,000,000. 



The uses of seaweeds are numei-ous. They furnish thousands of 

 tons of fertilizer, many )uitritious foods, and a variety of chemicals, 

 especially iodine and bromine. Other uses are in sizing fabrics, as a 

 mordant in 'dyeing, in refining beer, in making paper, fishing lines, 

 ropes, for stufhng upholstery, packing porcelain, etc. The Japanese 

 have been es])ecially adept in discovering uses for seaweeds. 



Glue-manufaclure provides an outlet foi- the profitable use of much 

 waste in dressing dried codfish. This nuiterial was formerly dis- 

 carded as useless, but now^ tens of tluiusands dollars' woi-th of 

 choicest glue for j)ostage stamps, court-plaster, adhesive paper, labels, 

 envelopes, for mechanical purposes, and for sizing of straw goods 

 and textile fabrics, and likeAvise oflice and domestic mucilage are 

 manufactured froni fish skins. The product is very much stronger 

 and more durable than glue made from the skins of mammals. 



Isinglass nuide from the sounds or swimming bladders of sturgeon, 

 hake, cod, squeteague, etc., is used for clarifying fermented liquors, 

 the cellular construction forming a sort of net Avhich carries down 

 fioating particles. However, the use of this material has been much 

 reduced, owing to the numerous substitutes obtained fi-om domestic 

 animals. 



Commercial albumen may be made from the eggs of cod and other 

 species, but it has not yet been extensively nuinufactured. 



Tlie preparation of oils and fertilizers, to Avhich the jjresent report 

 is devoted, is intimatelj'' associated, especially in the case of the men- 

 haden industry. The tissues remaining after the extraction of oil 

 from herring and other waste fish, from the blubber of seals, porjjoise, 

 and the like, from the livers of cod and related species, the livei-s of 

 sharks, from the waste parts of fish in dressing, etc., are commonly 

 l)repared for fertilizing purj)oses, and the preparation of the two 

 materials is usually cai'ried on in the same factory and in some 

 instances by the same workmen. Foi' this reason it appears desirable 

 to combine in one paper the account of the preparation of oils and 

 fertilizers from aquatic products. This paper, however, is divided into 

 two parts, one relating to the preparation, characteristics, and uses 

 of fish oils, fats, and waxes, and the other to the utilization of aquatic 

 pi'oducts as fell ilizers. 



